The Shawshank Redemption Review by Chris

The Shawshank Redemption is an awesome story written and directed by Frank Darabont. It was released in 1994 and then was re-released in 2004. I would recommend this movie to anyone, although I would keep small children from seeing it because of the language and some of the content.
The Shawshank Redemption has is an amazing story of a man named Andy Dufresne who is wrongfully accused and sentenced to two life sentences back to back without parole for the murder of his wife and her lover. Once in prison, Andy goes from being just another inmate to someone whom even the guards come to admire. Andy began to help the guards with their taxes and other legal things while they began to help him with what he needed. As time went on, the warden started to use Andy’s skills to pocket money that was going through the prison in an account that could not be traced. After finally getting fed up with his life in prison, Andy escapes and is free from Shawshank.
A really easy theme to see is that of hope. Andy is always talking about hope. He has hope that one day everything will be fine. He has hope of a better life, and it is this hope that he begins to pass on to his fellow inmates. He sent letters to the state for years requesting funds to help build a better library for the prison. After hundreds of letters, the state finally gives him the money he needs and Andy builds a huge library. With this library, he begins to help some of the inmates get their high school diplomas. He taught them how to hope and how great a thing hope is.
Another theme from the movie that carries a spiritual tone is that of redemption. In the movie it is easy to see that Andy Dufresne is the one who is redeemed, but there is a much bigger story of redemption that is taking place. The answer can be found in the movie’s title. The whole prison is redeemed. Redemption can be defined as deliverance from something upon the payment of a ransom. In the movie Andy pays the ransom with all of his hard work. He puts up with the warden in order for the library to be built. He toils for hours and helps the inmates with their needs. Through his payment, he redeems those at Shawshank by giving them a hope for the future is it through the ability to get an education or to just have faith that they can make it through whatever happens to them. In the same way, Jesus has redeemed us. He came down and paid with his life. He freed us from the sins of the world and made it possible for us to have faith that no matter what we are going through, He is always there with us. He will come again. And because of His payment, we are able to hope for a better future.